Monthly Archives: May 2012

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A Study of Emptiness and Finding Purpose Along Baltimore City’s Historic Corridor

Once a vibrant and busy destination, Howard Street now functions simply as a means for passage through, into, and out of Baltimore City. By intimately studying the blocks between Fayette and Monument Streets, one might catch brief glimpses of the lively street that once was. Most of what’s left standing today, however, tells a rather unfortunate story of a neglected and forgotten corridor. Borrowing from the processes outlined by urban theorists before me, I have used various systems to evaluate the physical form as well as the expressive essence of Howard Street. From such vigorous analyses, I have identified a combination of grounds for explanation as to why the corridor is, or is not, functioning in its current form.

As a Baltimore County resident, I often use the light rail line to travel into the city. As it enters Baltimore’s central neighborhoods, the light rail settles into the Howard Street right-of-way. In my years of riding, I have developed a sort of fondness for one stop in particular. At the corner of Howard Street and Centre street, the light rail drops its passengers off a few blocks west of Mount Vernon, just south of the Cultural Center, one stop north of Lexington Market, and nearby to downtown Baltimore. Yet it was never because of this stop’s close proximity to such amenities that drew me in; it was likely more about the adjacent park, or perhaps the fact that this particular light rail stop always had a sense of stillness to it, that I took the opportunity to step off the train. From the intersection at Monument Street, just north of the Centre Street light rail stop, down to the next light rail stop on the 100 block at Fayette, Howard Street has a very distinct character. My study of the corridor encompasses these six blocks, with heavy focus on the three northernmost blocks from Mulberry to Monument. Systems of evaluation- such as Kevin Lynch’s visual mapping; Emily Talen’s approach to transect classification; the Venturi and Scott Brown system of signs and symbols; and indeed Anne Whiston Spirn’s study of nature within the city- shall provide an opportunity to peel back the layers of the city to reveal the fundamental nature of Howard Street.

The light rail line, providing access to and from the county, makes Howard Street a significant transportation corridor. Combined with the Saratoga Street Metro Station, Howard Street is the link between Baltimore City and the larger Baltimore Metropolitan Region. To many, however, Howard Street’s significance lay not in its transportation roles, but in the rich history it possesses. City residents know Howard Street for the stories that have been passed down about its grand department stores and thriving theaters of the 1870s, as well as for the Lexington Market just one block to the west. Howard Street was a destination for city and county residents alike. People from all over would arrive at Howard Street for the stores found there. Meanwhile, the Academy of Music, Stanley Theater, and Natatorium (which would later become the Mayfair Theatre in 1941) were all located just a few blocks north between Franklin and Centre Streets, a block which grew into a major theatrical complex. Here, well known actors and actresses performed, such as Katharine Hepburn, who began her career in the Natatorium (Gunts 1993). The Natatorium was transformed into Kernan’s Howard Street Auditorium after a man named James Lawrence Kernan bought the property in the 1890s. Mr. Kernan not only operated the theater, but owned an additional building on the block which functioned as the Congress Hotel. This block became known as Kernan’s Corner.

The department stores and theaters have since shut down; only the Market continues to operate today (at 230 years old, it is the longest running market in the world), but fading signage lingers as a reminder of what once was. The evolution, or perhaps decline, happened slowly throughout the twentieth century as the corridor was altered little by little. In the 1930s, even amidst the Great Depression, Howard street was still a robust, and vibrant destination. Howard Street at Lexington was, at the time, a major intersection and in 1934, Read’s Drug Store was constructed on the southeast corner. Twenty-one years later, in 1955, Read’s would be the site of an early sit-in of the civil rights movement, which has since given Howard Street profound social significance.[1] Five years before the well known Greensboro sit-in, a group of Morgan State University students made a powerful statement when they organized a successful protest at the Read’s Drug Store lunch counter (Pousson 2011).

While Howard Street was doing well during these years so, too, was the automobile which made traveling outside the city an efficient alternative. With this convenience, the new shopping malls were able to flourish. As more and more city residents traveled to the outskirts of Baltimore to shop in these new malls, Howard Street became less and less relevant, yet managed to remain economically stable. In 1942, the Greyhound Bus Terminal was built at Howard and Centre Street (Vandervoort n.d.). Howard Street was to be enhanced by a new bus route, a future that was never realized. This building still stands today and is part of the Maryland Historical Society’s campus. The Maryland Transit Administration entered the picture in the 1980s with the introduction of the light rail line. Although it provided an inexpensive means for residents to travel within and around the city, there has been a general consensus that the transportation “improvements” of the light rail have been the main cause of Howard Street’s demise.

The Remaining Architecture

The booming activity of old Howard Street may be gone, but the physical form remains. Many of the buildings which directly front the street retain architectural details that can so rarely be found on buildings constructed after the 19th century. Sadly, behind these magnificent facades, the buildings crumble in disrepair. Like the Mayfair, whose roof collapsed in the 1990s, these buildings sit as abandoned shells, waiting for the next tenant to come along and embrace their history; but it’s been years since anyone’s seemed interested. While people have all but forgotten, nature has slowly begun the process of reclaiming the land upon which these buildings sit. A future similar to the one explored by author Alan Weisman in his book, The World Without Us, is developing before our eyes. As human activity continues to neglect the few blocks surrounding Kernan’s Corner, nature- as I’ll soon explain- finds new ways to make its presence known.

Methodology for Deeper Appreciation

Although I have been to Howard Street many times before, I had never delved so deeply into its story as I did upon my initial study visit. During this trip, I utilized photo documentation and visual mapping techniques, in conjunction with notations of any emotions felt along the way, to document the corridor. The goal was to be truly within Howard Street’s fabric as opposed to just passing through it, as too many people often do. Traveling a total of ten blocks between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Baltimore Street, I made a point to patronize local establishments and talk to any willing passerby. The subsequent visit entailed a much more elaborate process of evaluation, which proved to illustrate very interesting results.

A Collection of Urban Study Methodologies

Equipped with map and pen, I explored Howard Street through Kevin Lynch’s system of spatial mapping. Recognizing key nodes along the corridor proved simple, as there were very clearly defined areas of activity- often around the light rail stops, and certainly around Lexington Market. Landmarks were difficult to distinguish as very few literal monuments exist. Instead, identifiable and recognizable buildings- such as the Market, Hutzler’s department store, Read’s Drug Store, and the Greyhound Terminal- served to orient me along the way. Barriers were abundant due to the excessive presence of fences near Kernan’s Corner, as well as vast sections of unusable space formed by entire blocks of vacant buildings. An obvious north-south pathway was facilitated by the movement of the light rail train (although automobile traffic on Howard was minor), and certain cross streets had notably heavier traffic flows than others in the east-west directions. During my visit, I made quick notations of the presence of people and the coinciding activities along the way. The portion of Howard Street closest to Lexington Market was the most active, while my observation of population was lowest near Kernan’s Corner, where most of the vacant buildings are situated. Beginning with the most active section at the Lexington cross street and moving north towards Monument, the density of Howard Street gradually shifts downward. This transition seems to exemplify Emily Talen’s system of transect zones, if only as micro-transects of the ‘urban center transect’ classification. From the larger, high-rise structures between Fayette and Lexington all the way up to the three to four story buildings by Monument Street, the corridor transitions from a highly active district to a vacant and abandoned section of blocks. Although merely an observation, the identification of these conditions may prove useful when considering the future of Howard Street.

Very little that exists on Howard Street is consistent from Monument to Fayette. Street art, however, is surprisingly abundant along the entire stretch. These images carry heavy messages, which make them particularly intriguing. As I was studying one of the first pieces I encountered, I paused photographing so as to greet a passerby. The man said hello, continued walking to the opposite end of the block, then reversed course with extreme purpose. He marched back to where I stood to ask me why I would photograph this image which he didn’t find to be especially alluring. I’m very glad he decided to speak with me, for our long discussion of art proved quite enjoyable and as testimony of art’s power to bring strangers together. Art, much like the iconography and symbols discussed by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour, punctuates the public space of the corridor as a response to the everyday life of the city. As Venturi, Scott Brown and Izenour had done with the signage and graphic elements of the Las Vegas strip, I photographed and cataloged the street art and faded iconography along Howard Street. Plywood covered storefronts proved to be the most inviting canvases for street art, as the highest percentage of art was found on the blocks with the most vacant buildings. Whether it altered the environment for better or worse seems to be a matter of personal preference, as I noted from my conversation with the passerby, but its presence is certainly noticed.

A most exciting study of Howard Street came from my consideration of nature in the city. My evaluation was based on Anne Whiston Spirn’s belief that nature helps to determine how meaningful a place may be. In my investigation, I paid particular attention to nature as it specifically pertains to plant life. When observing an open space inventory of Baltimore City as a whole, patches of green speckle the map save for the area within which Howard Street rests (Baltimore 2010). The only green spaces along this portion of the road are Howard’s Park, directly across from the old Greyhound Terminal[2]. Outside of Howard’s Park, nature has been left to fend for itself. Where street trees once stood, empty wells mark the graves of fallen allies. These empty tree wells have sometimes been filled with asphalt, as if to ensure anything that lives can never grow there again. Occasionally, perhaps in an attempt to conceal this atrocious behavior, flower pots have been set on top of these asphalt-filled, empty tree wells. My investigation included counting the total number of tree wells on each block, and how many of them were actually filled with street trees. I discovered that the blocks with the most vacant buildings were also those with the fewest occupied tree wells. I determined that 17% of the tree wells on the 400 block from Franklin to Mulberry were empty, and an astonishing 62% of the tree wells between Mulberry and Saratoga were barren. In addition to street trees (or lack thereof), I identified any instance where nature proved more resourceful than humans had accounted for. It is not the property-owners of the northern blocks that have claimed ownership of the land, it’s the land itself that has declared possession. In these warm March days, hearty and verdant weeds have already begun to seep from the cracks in the pavement. Even the asphalt filled wells couldn’t keep nature from persevering: mature trees had found their way into abandoned buildings and now escape through gaps in the boarded-up windows and out onto rooftops. The six blocks between Monument and Fayette Streets account for a total length of approximately 2,513 feet. Along this stretch of Howard Street, there is an average of about one tree for every 40 feet. Not nearly enough, in my personal opinion.

Other systems of observation were less fruitful. The study area lacked many of the layers that would define any of the elements architect Christopher Alexander might identify as terminology of a pattern language. Certainly this lack of patterns, however, contributes to the area’s absent vitality. Hierarchy of spaces can be experienced close to the Market, but on the northern blocks the space is void. As I review my findings from the various systems of evaluation, I find reinforcement of the intuitive perception that it is the absence of a number of systems which make certain environments less productive.

A Strange Sense of Place

Oddly enough, however, the total absence of layers is also what contributes to the haven-like atmosphere of the northern blocks. The two blocks between Mulberry and Centre lack nearly all layers of environmental character, including people. Deserted spaces in cities usually connote an unsafe territory, yet these blocks have just the right amount of people riding by on the light rail and walking past on their trips to the area’s various attractions that the blocks offer safe solitude for any urbanite in search of refuge. How peculiar it is to be in a dense urban setting without all the commotion of frenzied city life!?

Future Study and Final Thoughts

The element of life, both human and natural, is an important assessment of a location’s well being. Had I more time to study this portion of Howard Street, I would take a cyclical approach. I would consider changes of the natural seasons and note how they may or may not shape the level of pedestrian activity. Such an analysis should be continued for a span of many years, and should be critical of the ways in which human behavior is altered by any changes in environment. There is also potential for more normative, detailed statistical research on the tree canopy of the area and about the life stages of the trees on each block. This data could be compared with that of Baltimore City as a whole. By further developing a study of life as it exists on Howard Street, overlays of information illustrate an urban environments success and failure.

Today, Howard Street struggles, yet it works. It works as an exhibit of sorts through which someone might stroll to discover something new about their city, or themselves. The unfortunate truth, however, is that although these crumbling facades paint a picture of the exciting corridor that Howard Street had once been, their symptoms of disrepair also warn of a disastrous future.

[1] A majority of this information has been gathered from personal discussions and general inquiries. Further research is required for verification.

[2] The study also identifies the Metro Station plaza as open space on the map, although this hardly accounts for any green space.

The above text is from a written report describing the conditions along Howard Street, Baltimore through use of the methods proposed by various urban theorists. It was an assignment from an Urban Design Studio course in Morgan State University’s City and Regional Planning Graduate program.

This June, I will be getting married!!! I’m very fortunate to have had the time and resources available to make our event an eco-friendly event. The wedding industry is extremely wasteful, thus having a terrible economic impact.

The problem? Since I was a little girl, before I understood much about environmental impact, I had my dream wedding planned. How do I have the printed invites I’ve wanted? The extravagant dress? The exuberant reception!?

What does it mean to have a green wedding? No, it’s not about wearing a dress that’s literally the color green (embarrassingly enough, more than a few people have asked that)! It’s about having the smallest impact on the environment as possible, while still having a grand celebratory union! For Shane and I, that means:

…(2a) Having the ceremony and reception in one place to limit travel emissions!

(3) Re-using the materials of mother-of-the-bride’s wedding dress (I can’t wait to post a photo of the finished dress!)

(4) Letting the bridesmaids choose their own dresses, so as to ensure they get worn again!

(5) Opting for a seasonally inspired, meat-limited menu, and choosing a caterer who is conscious about their food choices and who utilizes many local farmer’s products [ Amazing food: check out our caterer: The Pantry Catering!]

(7) Purchasing local, in season flowers for our decorations and bouquets [Local Color Flowers is an amazing company!]

(8) Utilizing a personalized registry, allowing us to suggest organic and eco-friendly products to anyone who might wish to present us with a gift [My Registry + Pristine Planet = eco-friendly gift registry from all of the web’s greenest retailers!]

(10) Serving a mix of vegan/non-vegan cupcakes instead of cake, which limits the use of unnecessary serveware

(11) Instead of cheap favors, we will either be planting trees, or offsetting the carbon emissions of the event.

How can you do the same? There are plenty of resources available to you, first, you ought to know what exactly the conventional wedding requires, and how harmful such an event can be. Books like the Green Bride Guide do a wonderful job explaining that. Also, see if there are Green Wedding Showcases near where you live! Last year, I attended the Mid-Atlantic Green Wedding Showcase. I learned about all the local vendors who were socially/environmentally conscious. It was unfortunately cancelled this year, but I would have loved to have gone again!

And then basically, just look online. There’s the EcoBeautiful Weddings magazine: a GREAT resource and a ton of fun to look through! When I have more time, I’ll do a more educational post on how you can do the same. And if you’re interested, check back as I post more about our green wedding!

Quick Overview: This text is taken from a larger research project about 5 constituencies that had been identified along Howard Street in Baltimore City. The main focus of my studies (and in this post) is on street artists as catalysts for change.

“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

City streets are inherently public spaces. As the connections between all that the city has to offer, streets evolve into realms of social interaction. It doesn’t matter if you drive, walk, or take the bus — the streets belong to everyone. Who, then, ought we seek out when a street’s ability to function needs to be addressed? The list of constituents along the one mile stretch of Howard Street that cuts through downtown Baltimore could be never-ending. Members from all of these groups should have considerable interest in Howard Street, yet few are as active as they could be. This is especially true on the blocks between Mulberry and Monument Streets. On the surface, it seems as if no one is doing anything. But if you pull back the curtains, you’ll discover a plethora of operators. Busy at work on Howard Street we see the Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) Light Rail, Tree Baltimore and other environmental agencies, Baltimore’s planning initiatives and the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, and a creative group of artists. These five groups, each with their own objectives, carry the future of Howard Street.

…

Figure 1: Portrait of Harry Weinberg on Howard Street, by Gaia

Illegal Art: An Unlikely Act Restores Vivacity in the Streets

The image next to the Mayfair looks recalcitrant, much like the man it portrays. It was created by the internationally recognized street artist, Gaia, and is one of many portraits from the artist’s LegacySeries. Gaia has been creating art in Baltimore’s streets since he began attending the nearby Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). He has expressed that the intent behind these pieces was to “reinscribe[sic] the figures who have shaped our landscape back onto the surface of their legacy, the infrastructure and polices that we have inherited and must navigate”(Gaia, Legacy Series, Baltimore n.d.). Affixed to the facade of a forgotten building, the rendering of Weinberg looks out onto a parking lot of the opposite block. That entire square block was once one of Weinberg’s holdings, and the fact that it’s now a parking lot serves as testament to what little Weinberg had done for Baltimore’s revitalization. Gaia’s artwork is a reminder of this disastrous tale.

Gaia is not alone in his efforts, of course; numerous artists are dipping their brushes in Howard Street’s colorful palette. Local artist Nanook, another MICA student, has some of his bright paintings on display here. Additionally, a great deal of the remaining work on Howard Street can be attributed to a third, perhaps lesser-known, artist: Nether. There are even more, still, but these three seem to be most active and most passionate. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to speak with all three of these artists individually. Prior to meeting them, I believed that street artists, whether they realize it or not, are motivators for transformation. As it turns out, each artist recognized this role and felt a connection to it in one way or another. What they’ve had to say about street art’s potential has been entirely on par with my own theory.

Gaia, Nanook, and Nether are not the real names of these three artists. Because the work they are creating is unauthorized and technically illegal, each have chosen an alias to protect their identities. Though no one would recognize them by their given names, their street art names have earned them much recognition. The inability to take personal credit for their praiseworthy art, however, does not stop these three from creating pieces that have immeasurable impact on public spaces.

Many would agree that public murals have the ability to reinvigorate communities. Few, however, would currently consider illegal street art to have that same capacity for change. Comparing murals to street art, Gaia remarks, “One is an asset, one is a little social experiment”(Gaia 2012). Street art takes a very different approach in addressing social issues. Though both are creative forms of expression which impact a space and influence the public, street art is an improvised and more natural manifestation of social issues. Nanook explained it best when he described the quick and spontaneous nature of street art as a “glitch inside peoples’ everyday surroundings”(Nanook 2012). Personally, what I love most about street art is that it’s not as static as a legally authorized mural. Commissioned murals are always limited by a number of public and political preferences, as well as the requests made by those who have endorsed them. Street art, on the other hand, is pure freedom of expression. It lacks the “filter,” as Gaia calls it, that is imposed by whomever approves a mural. Of course, as Gaia bluntly remarks, “Street art really has potential, but there is so much bullshit – that’s what’s awesome: no one can control what occurs illegally.” Additionally, street art dares to go where no mural ever would. Street art touches on the less popular subjects of urban life; such as white flight, racial discrimination, and the city’s failures. On Howard Street, for example, Nanook has a wheat paste titled Washington, and Lady Godiva Falling from her Raven [Figure 2]. In lore, Lady Godiva is always depicted as a white, feminine woman; while Washington is known as being a strong white male. This piece actually speaks to Lady Godiva and Washington’s absence; for together, they signify white flight and the loss of feminine elements within the city(Nanook 2012). Showing both the good and the bad, street art demonstrates hope- we can change society by promoting art.

Figure 2: Washington, and Lady Godiva Falling from her Raven by Nanook

Of course, there is a difference between street art and graffiti. In the last decade, pop culture figures like Shepard Fairey and Banksy have drawn attention to street art’s relevance. Society has suddenly begun to view street art through a more appreciative lens, leading to increased public awareness and acceptance. Some people, however, often members from older generations, still find it challenging to differentiate between street art and graffiti; and so clarification is in order. As far as city officials are concerned, there is no difference; in either case, the unsolicited modification of a building’s facade is considered a signifier of blight. Yet anyone can see- from the message and tone to the level of artistic investment- that the characteristics of these separate creations are quite distinct. Graffiti on an abandon building is often equated with crime and can sometimes, especially in cases of gang graffiti, be considered threatening. Whereas traditional graffiti is usually a territorial claim to space or authority, street art is more about being socially invigorating. It is my belief that street art can potentially be considered an asset to a community. During our informal interview held in his studio, Gaia clarified the intent of street art “as an alternative means for use of inert space.” He proceeded with his animated conversation, pausing briefly to remind me of something fundamental: “But it’s illegal. And that’s what’s important.”

The artists don’t get much grief from Baltimore police. Rather than concern themselves with the fact that these artist are breaking the law, the cops have been more apprehensive about the artists’ safety in a rough neighborhood, or even admiring of their talent.[3] It is the community members who are actually more probing. Although both Gaia and Nanook say they’ve received only positive feedback in Baltimore, Gaia did note that a passerby will on occasion be inquisitive. “People try to call attention to the illegality of it,” Gaia tells me, “…but there are these horrible buildings that are a cancer to the neighborhood and they’ve accepted that.” In many areas, Baltimore residents have just grown to accept the poor condition of such structures. In time, they stop caring altogether. To Gaia, street art “challenges the view of private property” by calling attention to the tolerated misfortunes of a forgotten building. In his view, “when the landlord gives up their responsibility to uphold that building, they’ve given up their right to how that space should be visualized”(Gaia 2012). In some circumstances, these artistic endeavors do prompt action. After putting up work in East Baltimore for some time, Nanook has begun to see progress. Abandoned buildings are now being demolished and renovated. But unlike Gaia, who sees a direct correlation between his art and social change, Nanook believes that although street art can enliven a community, it’s not necessarily an incubus for that change(Nanook 2012). In his view, the decaying parts of Baltimore are simply the neighborhoods to which these artists are first drawn. When the vicious real estate cycle defines impoverished neighborhoods, illegal street art is an opportunity to fill the voids created by vacant properties that would otherwise sit fallow. As Gaia explains, street art gives people a sense of “having volition — you could even say control — of their surroundings” (qtd. in Michaud 2012).

In my interviews with both Gaia and Nanook, I posed a chicken-or-the-egg sort of question. “When you’re compelled to create a new piece,” I asked, “what comes first: the idea or the location?” More often than not, the concept comes first. But in certain situations, a space invites participation. I soon discovered that an extensive amount of consideration precedes what the public ultimately sees.

In Baltimore, artists are free to create their work on buildings without a permit so long as they have permission from the owner. But how are these rules to be interpreted when it comes to abandoned and vacant buildings- what “owner” grants permission in these instances? These abandoned spaces are often the ones who most need artistic intervention. Street artists create their work for many reasons. Of the three artists, Nether seems the most concerned with creating art which inspires change. On the surface, Nether uses his art as a temporary means to beautify his city. On an underlying layer, he sees the figures in his ever-increasing number of wheat-pastes as a growing “army of revolutionaries”(Nether 2012). He believes more individuals ought to fight, at whatever cost, for what they believe, as he does with his art.[4] To this degree, Nether uses his wheat pastes as a form of artistic protest against the February 26th killing of the Florida teenager, Trayvon Martin. Since the tragic event, Nether has been pasting images of a hooded figure throughout the City [Figure 3]- affixing empty Skittles wrappers to the side to represent Trayvon, who was shot while walking home after purchasing a bag of skittles and an iced tea(STREET ART: For Trayvon, by Nether 2012). While the concepts behind each of Nether’s individual image may be difficult to grasp along, his message becomes clear and strong when his creations are viewed as a whole.

Nether piece protesting the February death of Trayvon Martin

All three artists have emphasized the fact that, out of respect for property owners, they target neglected or unoccupied buildings. For this reason, Howard Street and Baltimore City, with plentiful vacant buildings, make for the perfect street art canvas. This environment also gives art the ability to address the issue of city vacancies. Both Gaia and Nanook were raised in other states, while Nether is a Baltimore native. Ashamed that one sixth of the houses in his city are vacant, Nether has no moral problem with the illegality of his work as he takes the vacancy problem into his own hands “in a civil and disobedient manner”(Nether 2012). Gaia and Nanook especially seem to understand real estate and development on levels that many others don’t, which explains why there are indeed times when putting work on an occupied building is appropriately justified.[5] With around 16,000 vacant buildings in Baltimore, “there’s no reason to hit an occupied building,” explains Nanook. “When you do, it’s on buildings that belong to large organizations who sit on properties forever and never develop”(Nanook 2012). By putting work on buildings like these, artists call the attention of the landowner back to the site. If only artists like Gaia and Nanook had been in Baltimore back when Weinberg was still alive and in control of all that neglected property, imagine how things might have changed.

More than just street artists, both Gaia and Nanook have experience at the other end of the public art spectrum as well. In 2009, Gaia had contributed to The Wynwood Walls mural project in Miami, Florida. More recently, both Gaia and Nanook, who have been known to join artistic forces, had participated in the Living Walls Mural Projects of Albany, New York and of Atlanta, Georgia. Their prolific mural creations continue to address the cultural, social, and political issues of cities, and there’s no indication they’re about to stop. In fact, as I write this essay, they are hard at work organizing a tremendous art undertaking right here in Baltimore. A short distance from the downtown district, Howard Street reaches Station North, where Gaia is curating the Open Walls Baltimore (OWB) initiative. Together with Nanook and the Station North Arts and Entertainment District, Gaia has called upon some of the most widely recognized street artists in the world, from as far away as Italy, for the purpose of creating 22 murals(Open Walls Baltimore n.d.). An art project of this magnitude is unprecedented in Baltimore. For years, the City has been investing in this neighborhood, yet it wasn’t until the mural installations had begun in these last 3 months that any real change has been visible. With experience creating both street art and murals, Gaia and Nanook appreciate the advantages of each and are able to offer a more valuable perspective on public art. When the OWB project concludes, the artists will go back to creating street art until another grand opportunity arises. Their work may diminish in scale, formality, or publicity- but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from speaking with these artists, it’s that the integrity of their art’s purpose will never fade.

“My murals won’t last forever, the building it’s on won’t last forever. We think of the urban landscape as this static urban monster, but buildings are always coming up and going down and graffiti is a part of that.” Gaia, qtd. in Michaud 2012.

While murals can have a far reaching influence, there isn’t always the money for such a grand venture. Open Walls Baltimore is a rare opportunity. It’s extremely difficult for a neighborhood to initiate a mural project like this until the government is ready for an area to change. If the government isn’t ready, it’s unlikely that a neighborhood can gather the funds for a mural project on their own(Gaia 2012). Street art can satisfy the need for public art when murals are not an option. Arlene Goldbard, author of New Creative Community: The Art of Cultural Development, praises the creativity and resourcefulness that artists employ as they nevertheless produce something amazing despite lack of money(McCabe 2012). When the world is changing, you can rely on the artists to enthusiastically pioneer the way.

As artistic protest, street art reminds “the Man that the space belongs to the people as well as to him”(Jamieson 2009). From Nether and Gaia’s wheat-pasted creations to Nanook’s vibrant illustrations, Howard Street exists as an artistic expression. These creators, along with the contributions of many others, have animated the empty space and transformed it into a very raw and human art gallery- curated not by any one person, rather by the present social conditions of Baltimore City. Slowly and quietly, street art has invaded communities, changed perceptions, and encouraged the formation of critical opinions among city dwellers. Street art is more genuine than a mural, more vivid than graffiti, and more visionary than a master plan. It can bring something to a space that wasn’t already there. It has been quite encouraging to discover that the three street artists with whom I’ve spoken have many of the same hopes for neighborhoods as do urban planners. Legal or not, their work along Howard Street is at the very least sympathetic to the surrounding urban conditions and an inspiration for all.

Conclusion

Although the 400 to 600 blocks of Howard Street may initially seem lifeless, they are not devoid of life. In actuality, an eclectic assortment of players are at work. Each are interrelated in one way or another, and additional agencies are pulled into their interactions that shape public spaces. Unfortunately, there has been little cooperation between them. One group’s wishes interfere with the another group’s ability to achieve their own goals. Perhaps once these constituents understand that they each exist as part of a larger whole, their interactions will be more fruitful. Entities like the MTA and the Baltimore Development Corporation should plan together and coordinate their visions while the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation can use their power to offer assistance. Furthermore, the non-traditional collectives formed by wildlife and artists offer visionary remedies to revive public space. The inherent advantages of nature will be the spark that generates revitalization. Nature, or rather, its stewards, have the ability to transform these blocks, while there is an opportunity for the artistic entities to take hold along Howard Street. Open Walls Baltimore started as a Station North initiative, but its vision would certainly hold merit on Howard’s Streets architectural canvases. And the nearby Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), for example, whose students and alumni (Gaia and Nanook, et al) have already claimed their creative rights on Howard as street artists, has nothing to lose by investing here. With collaboration, Howard Street can potentially become an easily accessible mecca for social interaction where individual expression is encouraged and desired.

[1] Baltimore’s WestSide is an area bounded by the State Center area to the North, Charles Street to the East, Pratt Street to the South and, Martin Luther King Boulevard to the West

[2] Kathy Robertson spoke with the Seminar in Urban Design I students on April 17, 2012 to discuss the Baltimore Development Corporation’s initiative to revitalize the Western district of Baltimore, a 100 square block area bounded by Charles St., Pratt St., Martin Luther King Blvd. and the State Center complex.

[3] It’s important to note that each of these three artists is a young Caucasian. Though unfortunate, the police would likely not be so pardoning had the artists been of other racial backgrounds.

[4] It seems worthwhile mentioning that a wise woman (my mother) has recently commended my generation for not being deceived by the “bullshit.” A subject worthy of its own analysis, the radical outlook of younger generations seems to be reshaping society into something more open and honest.

[5] One key word, used by both Gaia and Nanook, was “respect.” These artists are always mindful of the work they are creating, and especially so on buildings that may have owners, but are abandoned. There’s an equilibrium of respect that must be maintained. This principle is what steers them towards or away from certain neighborhoods. Take, for example, Charles Village: Nanook would never put his art in Charles Village, not only because of the affluence there but also because the residents themselves respect the buildings.